181–187 Hay Street, Sydney
| 181–187 Hay Street | |
|---|---|
 181–187 Hay Street, also known as the Corporation Building, in 2016 | |
| Location | 181–187Hay Street, Sydney,Australia |
| Coordinates | 33°52′48″S151°12′21″E/ 33.8800°S 151.2058°E |
| Built | 1893–1895 |
| Architect | George McRae |
| Architectural style(s) | Federation Anglo-Dutch |
| Owner | City of Sydney |
| Official name | Municipal Building; Corporation Building |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 2 April 1999 |
| Reference no. | 693 |
| Type | Council Chambers |
| Category | Government and Administration |
| Builders | Daniel McInnes |
  Location of 181–187 Hay Street in Sydney | |
181–187 Hay Street,also known as theCorporation BuildingorMunicipal Building,is aheritage-listedformer council chambers located at 181–187Hay Street,in theHaymarketdistrict ofSydney,Australia. It was built from 1893. The property is owned by City of Sydney and was added to theNew South Wales State Heritage Registeron 2 April 1999.
The building is home to the4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
History
[edit]The "Eorapeople "was the name given by the British colonisers to theAboriginal peoplewho inhabited the area around Sydney around 1788. Central Sydney is therefore often referred to as "Eora country". Within the City of Sydneylocal government area,thetraditional ownersare theCadigalandWangalbands of the Eora. There is no written record of the name of the language spoken and currently there are debates as whether the coastal peoples spoke a separate language "Eora" or whether this was actually a dialect of theDharug language.Remnant bushland in places likeBlackwattle Bayretain elements of traditional plant, bird and animal life, including fish androck oysters.[1]
WithBritish settlement of the Sydney region,theGadigalandWangalpeople were decimated, but there are descendants still living in Sydney today, and Aboriginal people from across the state have been attracted to suburbs such asPyrmont,Balmain,Rozelle,Glebe,andRedfernsince the 1930s. Changes in government legislation in the 1960s provided freedom of movement, enabling more Aboriginal people to choose to live in Sydney.[1][2]
In 1892 it was proposed that "the old Corporation stores at the Haymarket is to be removed and give place to a building which will unite in character the markets adjacent." Primarily the new building was to provide "good lavatory accommodation" to cater for increased market activity in the area as well as some small retail outlets and offices. Indications of this combined use are still evident. The building is one of the very few remaining public toilets built in this period.[1]
The contract for the construction of the new building, designed byGeorge McRae,was let on 16 February 1893 to Daniel McInnes. This was around the same time that the construction of theQueen Victoria Building,also by McRae, was commenced. The New Corporation building was completed in 1895. In 1913 the adjacent Belmore markets were converted to the "Hippodrome" (laterCapitol Theatre) and the original terracotta features were relocated to the first floor. During the 1920s as the market use ceased, shop fronts were inserted into the openings in thefacadeof 181-187 Hay Street and in 1935 the original awning was replaced with the present structure. The early awning was colonnaded with cast iron supports and was constructed under a separate contract in 1894. Following a fire in 1974, the roof covering was replaced with metal sheeting and since that time numerous alterations have taken place to the interior and exterior including the demolition of the central stairs and the removal of first floor partitions. The corner of the building under the tower has also been removed and new stairs and concrete floors have been inserted.[1]
Description
[edit]
181–187 Hay Street is a rare example ofFederation Anglo-Dutchstyle commercial architecture (pre-dating the Federation period by some years) with its intricate detailing and richly texturedfaçade.Located in the Haymarket area of the City of Sydney, the building has its own distinctive architectural features using colourfulterracotta,sandstoneandred brickdetailing and flamboyant forms and motifs.[1]
he external detail is largely intact, with openings having been infilled from the 1920s onwards and anawningbeing replaced in 1935, but the interiors have undergone significant changes with only some elements surviving. The building occupies a corner site, fronting three streets, giving it a visual prominence in the area and the major corner is surmounted by a small round tower with conical roof. It forms a key part of the precinct with theCapitol Theatreand the Haymarket Chambers, which reflect Sydney's social and architectural heritage around the turn of the century.[1]
Physical condition
[edit]The original building was predominantly loadbearing brick and timber construction, but various alterations have changed internal materials with the introduction ofreinforced concretefloors, concrete stairs and the removal of dividing walls on the upper level. Internal features of significance include: timber-panelled encasement of the earlyroller shutter,internal detail of theskylight(now concealed), and originalcast ironcolumns. The building appears to have been damaged by fire in the 1970s, which apparently affected the roof and internal finishes. Intrusive elements include a post-1970s fitout and other alterations.[1]
Modifications and dates
[edit]- 1893–1895 – the building was used for market administration and public toilet by City Council;
- 2000 – the building was renovated and used as a Chinese community centre.[1]
Heritage listing
[edit]The Corporation building is within a recognised Heritage Streetscape. The building is of historic, aesthetic, and social significance as a rare surviving example of a small scale, flamboyant Federation Anglo-Dutch style building, characterised by intricate brick detailing and stylised design motifs. With the Haymarket Chambers, Capitol Theatre, and Palace Hotel, it forms a significant historic precinct of Victorian and Edwardian buildings of consistent character and scale, reflecting the period's growth and prosperity in relation to the markets, the railway terminus, and nearby large scale retail centres such as Anthony Hordern and Company. With the Capitol Theatre, the Corporation Building is a surviving element of the Belmore Market Precinct and a very fine example of market architecture from the late Victorian period.[1]
The building is an early and important work of the City Architect, George McRae, who designed a number of buildings throughout the city including the Queen Victoria Building.[1]
181–187 Hay Street was listed on theNew South Wales State Heritage Registeron 2 April 1999.[3]
Tenants
[edit]The Corporation Building has been the home of the4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Artsince 2000.[4][5]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^abcdefghij""Corporation Building" Including Interior ".New South Wales Heritage Database.Office of Environment & Heritage.Retrieved27 December2018.
- ^Heiss, Anita."Aboriginal People and Place".Barani: Indigenous History of Sydney City.City of Sydney.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Municipal Building".New South Wales State Heritage Register.Department of Planning & Environment.H00693.Retrieved13 October2018.
Text is licensed by State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) underCC BY 4.0licence.
- ^"History".4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.Archived fromthe originalon 17 October 2021.Retrieved21 September2021.
- ^"Defining Moments: Founding of Gallery 4A".Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.Retrieved21 September2021.
Attribution
[edit]
This Wikipedia article was originally based onMunicipal Building,entry number 693 in theNew South Wales State Heritage Registerpublished by the State of New South Wales (Department of Planning and Environment) 2018 underCC-BY 4.0licence,accessed on 13 October 2018.- This Wikipedia article was originally based on"Corporation Building" Including Interior,entry number 2424226 in theNew South Wales Heritage Databasepublished by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2016 underCC-BY 4.0licence,accessed on 27 December 2018.
External links
[edit]
Media related toCorporation Building, Sydneyat Wikimedia Commons